BOVINE DEHORNING: ASPECTS AND ADVANTAGES: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Dehorning is a procedure widely used in cattle farming with the aim of facilitating animal handling, preventing injuries, and improving leather and carcass quality. There are three main dehorning techniques: chemical, thermal, and surgical. Surgical dehorning is recommended for adult animals with fully developed horns and consists of making an incision around the horn base followed by its removal with a saw. However, in cases of “banana horn,” an anatomical variation commonly observed in the Nelore breed and characterized by the absence of bone support, removal can be performed only with a scalpel due to lower structural resistance. This study aims to report a case of surgical dehorning in a male Nelore bovine weighing approximately 24 arrobas, presenting a banana horn with a tumoral growth at its base. The animal was restrained in a chute, sedated with 2.5 mL of xylazine administered intramuscularly, and given local anesthesia with 20 mL of 2% lidocaine. The procedure was carried out using a scalpel, followed by skin suturing and application of topical ointment and silver spray. Postoperative treatment consisted of administering 50 mL of AgroVet Plus® intramuscularly for five consecutive days. The animal showed good recovery, with no signs of local complications, demonstrating that surgical dehorning, when properly performed under anesthesia, is a safe and effective procedure that contributes to animal welfare and safety in cattle production systems.